Menu

Unite has issued the press release below which is already getting a lot of coverage.
If you aren’t a Unite member yet, please join.
Fujitsu to axe 1,800 IT jobs ‘a hammer blow’ to the UK economy, says Unite
IT giant Fujitsu’s plans to axe 1,800 jobs – about 18 per cent of its UK workforce – was branded as ‘a hammer blow’ to the British economy by Unite, the country’s largest union, today (Tuesday 11 October).
Unite national officer for IT Ian Tonks said: “This is a hammer blow for these hardworking employees who have given their all to make the UK subsidiary highly profitable.
“It is not good news for the UK economy as the company says that it intends to offshore many of these jobs, with increased automation also responsible for job losses.
“Fujtsu’s main UK subsidiary made £85.6m profit last year and we see no reason for these job losses. Unite will be doing its utmost to fight for these jobs, as well as giving our members maximum support at this very worrying time.”
Workers will be affected at Fujitsu’s major sites which include Belfast Bracknell, Crewe, Londonderry/Derry, Manchester, Stevenage, Wakefield and Warrington.
Today’s announcement comes as Fujitsu staff in Manchester are voting in an industrial action ballot over pay, pensions and job security. Unite claims that the company has been cutting pay rates for years, despite healthy profits and it is failing to tackle a significant gender pay gap. The strike ballot result is expected on Wednesday 19 October.
The company has also given notice to terminate its UK works council, Fujitsu Voice, from January 2017, which, the union says, will reduce workers’ redundancy and consultation rights. Unite is fighting this, with the aim of securing union recognition for Fujitsu’s 10,000 UK workers.
Ian Tonks added: “Fujitsu claims to be a responsible business – it needs to start acting like one. Its UK staff make the company excellent profits.
“They deserve to be treated better than ‘unit costs’ that need to be minimised. Fujitsu staff are saying they have had enough of job and income insecurity and of being denied a real voice in their working lives.
“They can rely on the backing of Unite in challenging Fujitsu’s actions.”
ENDS
Notes to editors:
Fujitsu employs about 10,000 people in the UK delivering IT services to government and major companies.
For more information please contact Unite senior communications officer Shaun Noble on 020 3371 2060 or 07768 693940. Email: shaun.noble@unitetheunion.org
Unite is Britain and Ireland’s largest trade union with over 1.4 million members working across all sectors of the economy. The general secretary is Len McCluskey.

Like this:

Unite members across Fujitsu Services Limited in the UK are fighting over job security, for union recognition, against victimisation of reps, and over pay and pensions. Members nationally tookÂ industrial from 28 February including 15 days of strikes and ongoing action short of strike, after 12 days of local strikes in Manchester.

INDUSTRIAL ACTION IS CURRENTLY SUSPENDED but members have voted by 92% to reject a company offer.